2017 Latino Hall of Fame InducteesThank you for your contribution to our Community

The Bacas were a farming and ranching family who helped found Trinidad, donating 75 acres of land upon which the city was built. Trinidad would serve as an important stop along the Santa Fe Trail. The Bacas led the supervision of an irrigation system that promoted agriculture in the San Luis Valley region before Felipe was elected as a representative to the territorial legislature.

Debra Bueno was born and raised in Fort Collins. Bueno is a steadfast community advocate whose career in community service spanned more than 40 years. As a recreation administrator, Debra devoted her professional life to developing youth programs at the Northside Aztlan Community Center in Fort Collins. Through the creation and operation of successful extra-curricular and athletics programs, Bueno has helped thousands of Northern Colorado youth develop leadership and self-advocacy skills.

Salazar, a San Luis Valley native, has had a distinguished career as a lawyer, public servant, and elected official. After practicing law, he served as chief legal counsel for Gov. Roy Romer before becoming the head of the state Department of Natural Resources. In 1998, Salazar earned the title of Colorado Attorney General before being elected as a US Senator in 2004. In 2009, Salazar was appointed as the Secretary of the Interior under President Obama. He is known as an ardent supporter of our state’s natural resources and rural Colorado.

Community Service And Philanthropy Award Presented by The Colorado Health Foundation

Ronald Montoya, successful businessman who has lived in the Denver community for more than 70 years, is a founder of the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado. The foundation was created to leverage giving and expand the amount and impact of philanthropy among Colorado Latinos. As of today, the foundation has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to 70-plus non-profit organizations in the past seven years.

Annette Quintana, along with her sister Victoria, founded Istonish in 1990, an information technology services company that has grown into an international Latino- and woman-owned staffing and consulting business, serving clients in telecommunications, medicine, aerospace, and government. Quintana has been a visionary in leading a company committed to diversity in providing the highest level of talent and consulting in the IT industry.

Arts, Entertainment, Media, And Sports Award Presented by the Coleman Family Fund

Florence, Hernández-Ramos, a Colorado Native, helped found listener-supported KUVO-FM radio in the mid-1980s. The station would become one of the country’s most successful public radio jazz stations. During Ramos’ more than 20 years as general manager, she also hosted the station’s flagship program, Cancion Mexicana, a staple in Latino households across the Metro Area that became the top Sunday morning program in the Denver market.

The LLI’s Colorado Latino Hall of Fame ensures that the Latino legacy of leadership is never forgotten and honorably recognized.

Six inductees who have achieved extraordinary success and made significant contributions to the State of Colorado will be inducted into the Latino Hall of Fame annually at the LLI’s Latino Hall of Fame Gala.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Latino Leadership Institute

About Us

The Latino Leadership Institute at the University of Denver is shaping Colorado’s future by preparing Latino leaders for the highest levels of influence in government, business, philanthropy and non-profit work.